Keith Senior’s Super League Grand Final Prediction

St Helens vs Salford Red Devils (Saturday 6pm)

After well over eight months of Super League action, the season reaches a fascinating climax tomorrow night.

The dominant force of 2019, St Helens, face possibly the greatest underdog story in the history of the competition, Salford Red Devils.

It will be a different kind of pressure to last week for Ian Watson’s players who were outstanding in beating Wigan, and for Saints they know that, much like the Challenge Cup Final, the weight of expectation is firmly on their shoulders.

Justin Holbrook’s side have only played once in three weeks now and as we see so often in the playoffs, it’s momentum that counts.

There are arguments both ways when it comes to whether it’s better to play or rest in these situations, but the way Saints dismantled Wigan after a week off last time leads me to believe they will be okay.

I’m looking forward to a number of interesting match-ups across the pitch: Coote vs Evalds, Thompson vs Mossop, Roby vs Lussick and of course Lomax vs Hastings.

I have thought long and hard about which way this game could go and I really can’t see it being a blow out.

It’s likely to be a typically wet October evening in Manchester and it will come down to who can hold their nerve.

For all the spotlight will be on halves, I think the game will be won in the forwards. Despite Salford overpowering Wigan last week, I can’t see them doing the same to Saints.

I don’t see the Red Devils pack rolling over, but I can see the relentless charges of Walmsley and Thompson hurting them late in the game.

It will be tight, tense and enthralling all at the same time, however, I think St Helens will end their season of dominance with a deserved Super League title.

Keith says: Saints by 7